Electrical cutout for motor vehicles



Dec. s, 1942.

J. c. SMYTHE 2,304,608 ELECTRICAL CUTOUT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July23, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l b fyl.

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8, 94 J. c. SMYTHE 2,304,608

- ELECTRICAL CUTOUT FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed July 23, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 27 I I l 20- I 1 I, 1 H v 28 Jean 65 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY" Patented Dec. 8, 1942 ELECTRICAL CUTOUT FOR MOTOR VEHICLESJean 0. smug Charlotte, N. Solenoid Electric Products assignmto 00.,Charlotte,

Application July 23, 1941, Serial No. 403,723

10Clnims.

The object of the invention is to provide a cut-out to be used as a partof the electrical equipment of motor vehicles where it is essential toabsolutely cut-ofi the electrical source to preclude the hazards of firein the event of collisions or the undue tilting or turning over of thevehicle; to provide a cut-out designed to positively and effectivelyoperate by means which are not subject to the carrying of heavy currentsand will yet render dead or inactive the heavy current source; andgenerally to provide a device of the kind indicated which is of simpleform and susceptible of cheap manufacture but is, at the same time,strong, durable, and positively operating when called upon to function.

With this object in view, the invention consists in a construction andcombination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings but to which the invention is not to berestricted. Practical application may dictate certain changes oralterations and the right is claimed to make any which fall within thespirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figures 2 and 3 are respectively sectional views on the planes indicatedby the lines 2-! and 3-3 of Figure 1.

rigure iisatopplanviewofoneoftheimpact switches. a

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 5-5 ofFigure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the main contacts andits associated grounding leaf or contact.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring of the cut-out. g

If the battery be under th hood, as in some cases, close proximity ofthe device to the battery will call for its being mounted on the dash asindicated in the illustrated embodiment of the invention. Such mountingwill place the main contacts III and II close to the battery l2 which,as in the conventional practice, is grounded, as indicated at l3, to theframe of the vehicle. In installing the invention, the battery cableleading from the positive side of the battery will be split and thebattery connected portion of the same will be connected to the contact Ithrough the instrumentality of the binding post ll. And the starterconnected portion of the cable will be connected to the contact Hthrough the instrumentality of the binding post It, appropriate lugs,such as indicated at i 6, having been connected to the split portions ofthe cable.

The contacts In and ii constitute the principal contacts of theinvention and circuit closing position is eifected by bridging them withthe bridger disk ll, the latter being loosely or floatingly mounted onan insulating bushing l8 which is carried at the lower end of the coreI! of a solenoid 20, the latter being wound on an appropriate sleeve inwhich the core moves and the solenoid being supported from the top ofthe case 2i by means-of a nut 22 and washer 23, the former beingthreadedly engaged with the sleeve after the latter has been passedthrough an appropriate opening in the top wall of the case.

The winding of the solenoid is covered with a shield 24 formedwith ears25 turned under the lower end of the spool on which the winding of thesolenoid is wound.

A stem 26 connects with the core IQ of the solenoid and passes throughthe upper end of the spool sleeve, being formed with a head 21 exteriorto the case for manual control of the core if that should be necessary.1

A light compression spring 28 surrounds the core and is compressedbetween the lower end of the solenoid spool and insulating bushing i8,this spring tending to move the bridger disk I! out of contact engagingposition.

By having the bridger disk floatinglymounted on the bushing, engagementwith both contacts in and H is insured.

The case 2| is secured to the dash or other vehicle part by means ofbolts 29 which pass through cars 30 with which the case is formed at theopen side. The wall of the dash or part to which the case is connectedoperates as the closure for the case, except where the latter maynecessarily have to be supported on a bar or the like when, of course, aseparate closure may be applied and held 23.

Mounted in the top wall of the case and at one side of the solenoid is afuse case 3!, this fuse case being of conventional form and adapted toreceive a replaceable fuse 32 by the simple oper ation of removing thecap 33 and substituting a good fuse for the blown one. One end of thefuse is electrically connected with the contact III by means of aconductor 34 and the opposite end connects with one end of the solenoidwinding through a conductor 35. The opposite end of the solenoid windingconnects with a ground post 36 through a conductor 31, the ground postbeing designed for a positive ground connection with some part of thevehicle frame. But, in the preferred embodiment of the invention,

in place by the mounting bolts through a manual control switch 35, thelatter being of conventional form with a pilot light I. mounted incommon therewith but not under direct control of the switch except tohave the common ground connection 40 with the latter. The positiveterminal of the pilot light is connected to the contact II by means of aconductor 4|. Thus when the switch is turned on the pilot light 39 willbe illuminated but only by reason of the fact that the solenoid thenfunctions to have the contacts l and H bridged by the bridger disk H.

The switch 38 serves as a manual control whereby the battery may bepositively cut-out of circuit without the necessity for having todisconnect the battery cable, as when a mechanic is engaged in his workand wants the entire electrical system dead.

Being designed to function in the event of collisions or of the equippedcar turning over, impact and tilt switches are provided. The tiltswitches are indicated at 42 and 43 and are in the form of metal tubesof which each has an enlarged upper end 44 closed with an insulatingdisk 45 in the center of which is a contact 46. The tubes containmercury, indicated at 41, of a quantity sufficient to rise approximatelyhalf the height of the tube. As long as the tubes are in positions notgreater than 45 from the vertical, there is no contact between themercury contact and the contact 45 and the tilt switch will thus be inopen position. In fact the tilt switch can tilt further than a 45position from the vertical without functioning but not to any greatextent beyond the 45 position.

The two tilt switches are mounted in channels in a block of insulatingmaterial 45 secured to the back wall of the casing by a bolt 49, andtheir relative angular positions are 90 but they are so disposed thatthey normally stand in intermediate positions between the vertical andhorizontal which would mean a position 45 either from a vertical orhorizontal plane.

The lower ends of the tubes are electrically connected together as arethe contacts 45 of the two, this arrangement placing these two switchesin parallel. And they are designed to be connected in parallel with theimpact switches 50 and each of which consists of a block of insulatingmaterial formed with mounting holes 50 that the blocks may be secured tothe back wall of the case by means of bolts 52. The impact switch 50 ismounted directly below the tilt switch 42 and the impact switch 5|correspondingly mounted with respect to The impact switches are ofconventional construction and each comprises a fixed contact 55 and amovable contact 54, the latter being carried on the free end of a leafspring 55 anchored to the block by a bolt 55 with which the ing 51 isconnected, the latter being designed for soldering to a conductor as isalso the lug 55 mounted in common with the contact 53.

The center leg of the leaf spring 55 is separated at one end from theremainder of the spring and is shorter than the two outside legs, acompression spring 59 having one end connected with the free end of thecenter leg and the other end with the body of the leaf spring adjacentthe mounting bolt.

A yoke of insulating material 50 is engaged with the center leg of theleaf spring 55 and is mounted in common with the rocker 51 which has aswinging or pivotal mounting on the switch the tilt switch 43.

block. If the rocker be moved in one direction, 75

theyokewilldefiectthecenterles oftheleaf and compress the spring 50.After the spring passes the point of greatest compression it expanda onthe opposite side of the leaf and thus will swing the leaf to move thecontact 54 away from the contact II or to move it into engagement withthe contact II, depending on the direction of movement of the rocker.

The rockers 5i are intended to operate by impact-that is, if the vehiclebe suddenly stopped, the inertia of the rocker will result in its beingswung, thus operating the yoke to effect movement of the leaf N.

The two switches 55 and II are normally in open position and one is setto move to closed position by a forward impact to which the equippedvehicle is subjected, while the latter is set to function on a rearimpact-that is, to be moved to closed position on a rear impact.

The switches 42, 43, and 5|, as aforesaid, are connected in parallel andone terminal of the group is connected by means of a conductor 52 with aground post 53. The other terminal of the group is connected by means ofa conductor with that end of the fuse connecting with the solenoidwinding.

In installing the appliance, a suitable ground connection from thevehicle frame to the binding post 53 is effected.

The contact H has mounted in common therewith a leaf contact 54 which isengaged with the lower end of the core I! when the solenoid isdeenergized. The purpose of this contact is to ground the generator ofthe electrical equipment when the master switch is in open position; andto make this ground effective, a conductor 55 is carried from the shield24 of the solenoid to the binding post 53.

In the operation of the invention, the impact switches 50 and 5| are setto open position and the tilt switches will obviously assume suchposition when the appliance is mounted. Upon closing the switch 38,current will flow from the battery 12 to the contact l0, thence over theconductor 34, through the fuse 32, the solenoid winding 25, theconductor 3!, switch Ill and ground back to the battery. The windingbeing thus energized, the core l9 will be raised, causing the bridgerdisk to engage the contacts I5 and II and thus place the electricalsystem of the equipped vehicle in circuit with the battery, so that thestarting motor may be operated and the other electrical equipmentfunction as usual.

If, there now be a collision, either forward or rear, one of the impactswitches will be shifted to closed position and battery current whichhas reached the fuse 32 will flow over the conductor 53, through theclosed switch, over the conductor 5!, binding post 53 and back to thebattery through the ground, thus short-circuiting the battery throughthe fuse and resulting in its being blown. The solenoid will thus bedeprived of current and the bridger disk will be shifted out ofengagement with the contacts l0 and II by reason of the dropping of thecore I! which, contacting with the leaf 54, will ground the generator.

Before the apparatus can again be placed in operative position a newfuse will be necessary and th resetting of the actuated switch to openposition will be required.

As the device functions in response to operation of an impact switch, sowill it function in response to the actuation of a tilt switch, as

where the machine will turn over or assume a dangerously inclinedposition.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and usefulis:

1. An electrical cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a master switchhaving spaced contacts arranged for interposition in the battery leadadjacent the battery, a movable element bridging said contacts andnormally disposed in nonbridging position, an electro-magnet forshifting the movable element into contact bridging position, and meansforming an independent circuit with the battery and including a seriallyconnected manual switch controlling the electromagnet to retain themovable element in contact bridging position.

2. An electrical cut-cut for motor vehicles comprising a master switchhaving spaced contacts arranged for interposition in the battery leadadjacent the battery, a movable element bridging said contacts andnormally disposed in nonbridging position, an electro-magnet forshifting the movable element into contact bridging position, and meansforming an independent circuit with the battery and controlling theelectromagnet to retain the movable element in contact bridgingposition, the last said means including a fuse between the positiveterminal of the battery and the electro-magnet and a switch between thelow potential end of the fuse and the negative terminal of the battery.

3. An electrical cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a master switchhaving spaced contacts arranged for interposition in the battery leadadjacent the battery,

a movable element bridging said contacts and normally disposed innonbridging position, an electro-magnet for shifting the movable elementinto contact bridging position, and means forming an independent circuitwith the battery and controlling the electromagnet to retain the movableelement in contact bridging position, the last said means including inseries with the electro-magnet from the positive terminal of the 4. Anelectrical cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a master switch havingspaced contacts arranged for interposition in the battery lead adjacentthe battery, a movable element bridging said contact and normallydisposed in nonbridging position, an electro-magnet for shifting themovable element into contact bridging position, and means forming anindependent circuit with the battery and controlling the electroswitches being in parallel and short-circuiting the battery through thefuse when any one is closed.

5. An electrical cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a master switchhaving spaced contacts arranged for interposition in the battery leadadjacent the battery, a movable element bridging said contacts andnormally in nonbrid lng position, a fuse, an electro-magnet actuatingsaid movable element and connected across the battery in series with thefuse, and an automatic switch connected across the battery in 3 serieswith the fuse tery through the fuse when closed.

6. An electrical cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a master switchhaving spaced contacts arranged for interposition in the battery leadadjacent the battery, a, movable element bridging said contacts andnormally in nonbridging postion, a cut-out, an electro-magnet actuatingsaid movable element and connected across the battery with its circuitcontrolled by the cut-out, and a plurality of automatic switchesconnected in parallel with the group of switches connected across thebattery and controlling the operation of the cut-out so as to effectopening of the latter upon the closing of any switch.

7. An electrical cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a master switchhaving spaced contacts arranged for interposition in the battery leadadjacent the battery, a movable element bridging said contacts andnormally disposed in non-bridging position, a fuse, an electro-magnetactuating said movable element and connected across the battery inseries with the fuse, a, plurality of automatic switches connected inparallel with the group of switches connected across the battery inseries with the fuse to short circuit the battery through the fuse whenany switch is closed, and a manual switch interposed in the circuit ofthe electro-magnet.

8. An electrical cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a master switchhaving spaced contacts arranged for interposition in the battery leadadjacent the battery, a movable element bridging vsaid contacts andnormally in nonbridging position, a fuse,-an electro-magnet actuatingsaid movable element and connected across the battery in series with thefuse, an impact switch, and a tilt switch, the tilt and impact switchesbeing connected in parallel but across the battery in' series with thefuse for short-circuiting the battery through the fuse upon closing ofeither switch. a

9. An electrical cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a master switchhaving spaced contacts arranged for interposition in the battery leadadjacent the battery, a movable element bridging said contacts andnormally disposed in non-bridging position, a fuse, an electro-magnetactuating said movable element and connected across the battery inseries with the fuse, a manual switch included in the circuit of theelectromagnet, and a plurality of automatic switches of which some areimpact and the others tilt switches, the tilt and impact switches beingconnected in parallel but across the battery in series with the fuse toshort-circuit the battery through the fuse upon closing of any one.

10. An electrical cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a master switchhaving spaced contacts arranged for lead adjacent the battery, bridgingsaid contacts and normally in nonbridging position, a fuse, anelectro-magnet actuating said movable element and connected across thebattery in series with the fuse, a plurality of automatic switchesconnected in parallel with the group connected across the battery inseries with the fuse and short-circuitlng the batte y through the fusewhen any one is closed, and means for grounding that one of the spacedcontacts remote from the battery when the movable element is innon-bridging position.

JEAN C. BMYTHE.

a movable element and short-circuiting the batinterposition in thebattery

